Pink Cupcakes: Music and Writing

Some of the lovely people who have been tucking into my book have been asking whether I have another on the horizon.

Truth is, I have hundreds on the horizon, most of which would never make the grade, but there is one gem I'm considering editing once I get to grips with having two kids, and it is heavily inspired by my love for St Ives in Cornwall and going under the name "Hope and Jump".

Regular readers will be aware of my love for the seaside, in particular St Ives, so there's no surprise the novel is based there, as well as some other places. The amazing thing about writing, is whilst I'm creating, I'm actually there, living the dream, shopping on Fore Street, and buying olives, cheese and Camel Valley white wine from the Digey deli. For that period in time, I live by the sea, watching my characters evolve, and I feel very lucky I can do it.

OK, so the first draft is complete and ready for action, but since time has become even more precious to me (babies, toddlers, washing, cats, kittens, chickens and husbands all being a huge issue here), I'm struggling to feel like myself, let alone having any time, so, instead of any intense editing, I've started doodling. Nothing serious you understand, just a little something to keep a fire burning inside my current empty shell, and that's thanks to MTV TWO.

I am very much an Indie girl at heart (Angels and Airwaves an exception folks!), so it doesn't take much to please me in this department, so there's no surprise I am rather excited about my new "favourite" bands. Take a peek at my "Cool Sounds" category and check them out. One Night Only, The Kooks and The Enemy to name a few are fuelling my desire, so I'm keeping hold of them for very selfish reasons.

The cool thing about this inspiration, whether it be a lyric, the music, the good looking singer or a hair cut, I take these things in turn and slot them nicely into my current book, never knowing where it's going to lead, OK, you know they'll be a little naughtiness in there, but I guess that's what I do best, but this latest doodling is actually turning out to be my bit of sanity, so if I have a spare second between screaming kids, nappies, milk and little fella on the naughty step, and desperately trying to shift the baby pounds, then I'm straight into it.

Anyway, one thing's for sure, music is most definitely my saviour at the moment, and writing around it is pretty brilliant.

And talking of pretty brilliant, finally Big Fella and I popped open the vintage Dom Perignon to celebrate little JB entering our lives, and damn fine it was too, only thing is, got a bit of a taste for it now, but a lovely alternative is the array of sparkling wines that I'm currently diving into.

Actually, I do have to be extra careful, after 9 months abstaining from the booze, after a Sunday buffet at my folks house last weekend, I had an almighty head on the next day, and with night feeds and little fella waking up wet in the night, it was most definitely not my finest hour, and since it's my sister's birthday this weekend, and it's my first "airing" since going to York last summer, I need to watch my step (and that's not just because I'm wearing my new pink wedges!!).